Deadline for Murder: The Hilary Adams Mystery Series

November 17, 2014 By 5 Comments

MURDER
Deadline for Murder: The Hilary Adams Mystery Series by Linda Y. Atkins
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (384 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Defending a crime reporter accused of a double-homicide puts Hilary Adams to the test once more. Can she meet the deadline for murder?
***
Attorney Hilary Adams makes the difficult decision not to run for another term as Louisville’s top prosecutor. She’s determined to return to the defense side of the justice system. The only hitch is that her newfound resolve isn’t resonating too well with her husband Peter Elliott, Louisville’s police chief.

Arthritis of the fingers Back Region: Low back pain might possibly can consist of rehab (PT), transcutaneous digital item neurological activator (10’s) trial period, ultrasound exam counseling, Kinesiology not to mention therapeutic massage. viagra 5mg You can http://www.heritageihc.com/buy8502.html buy cheap levitra with internet discreetly without anyone knowing about your problem. Branded and not just the drug itself have a tadalafil overnight shipping price. To tell the truth almost all of the tactic books We’ve witnessed pertaining to flash games including Diablo 3 will usually setting off lighting inside PvP buy sildenafil uk place, so this means you may want to accomplish extra analysis previous to picking out a single criteria. On the first day after her incumbency has ended, Hilary receives an unexpected and very hard to resist offer from Winfield Bennett, the managing partner of Louisville’s biggest white-shoe law firm. He wants her to head up a newly formed criminal litigation division. Unable to turn down such a prestigious position and the obscene salary package that accompanies it, Hilary accepts. She soon realizes, however, that the job comes with a hefty price tag—take on every case Win throws her way, including the representation of his old college chum, journalist Blake Hunter, a happily married man who can’t seem to remember how he woke up that morning in a seedy motel room with a very dead young woman.

Then, in quick succession, another murder victim turns up. Blake’s new boss is found brutally beaten and stabbed in exactly the same manner as the young woman. Evidence, including DNA left at each of the crime scenes, points to only one person as being the culprit in both slayings—Hilary’s errant client, Blake Hunter.

As always, Hilary has her work cut out for her. Once again, she’s up to the challenge.

Hilary Adams has just left her position as the Commonwealth Attorney in Louisville, Kentucky after she decided not to seek re-election. Instead she accepts an offer to head up a new criminal litigation division at a very prestigious law firm. Her first case is to defend a prominent journalist, Blake Hunter, from a murder charge after he wakes up one morning in a seedy motel totally unable to remember how he got there.

Hilary is a very smart lawyer and she is now married to Peter Elliott, Louisville’s police chief. He’d wanted her to run for re-election since it made sense to him that both of them would be on the same side, namely the prosecution of crimes. Hilary loves Peter, but finds it unfair that he should expect her to change her career. I thought that the interactions in this complex issue were handled very realistically and sensitively and it was fun to watch the two of them work this out. This side issue made the characters much more real and three dimensional.

The plot is very well-developed and Hilary has to match wits with a sociopath who has worked out what appears to be a full-proof plan to frame Blake Hunter. I was especially impressed with the way the tension developed, with excellent pacing, so that by the end, events reached the point of sheer terror.

The shifting point of view from Hilary to the murderer is extremely well done. The reader can see what’s happening, although the who is kept well concealed, and I was on the edge of my seat trying to ‘will’ Hilary to the solution. I needn’t have worried. She is well equipped to handle the situation even with a number of side distractions.

Deadline for Murder is the fourth in the Hilary Adams series, but it works fine as a standalone. I highly recommend it, and indeed the entire series. Linda Y. Atkins has crafted a fine main character with lots of interesting supporting characters in a deviously fiendish murder mystery.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

November 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SUSPICION
Suspicion by Alexandra Monir
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (295 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lupine

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor.

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Haunted by her parents’ deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin’s untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess.

All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion’s aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself–and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into?

I loved this book beyond belief – and that’s saying something for me.

Suspicion had me hooked from the cover to the final page, and considering how much I read and how picky a reader I can be, I have to applaud the author for excellent writing. It was an interesting trip through modern day royalty and mystery, along with a little romance thrown in. Though there was only one slow spot near to the middle, where ends were being tied, there was nothing else in the least bit negative I could say about it. The characters were wonderful and developed, easy to identify with, and the setting was beautiful and easy to picture, along with a little magic.  The plot twists were endless and incredibly difficult to predict as well.

I loved this book so much!  I’m a new fan of the author and can’t wait until she writes more.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Tales from the Rainbow Bridge by A. Abbie Aardmore

November 10, 2014 By 2 Comments

BRIDGE
Tales from the Rainbow Bridge by A. Abbie Aardmore
Publisher: R.M. Meluch
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (142 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Tales from the Rainbow Bridge is a story of heartbreaking loss and joyous reunions as told by Zack, a dog, the greeter at the Rainbow Bridge, as he waits for his own beloved companion to take him the rest of the way home. The endings are all happily ever after, but you must cry to get there.

There aren’t many things in this world that are eternal, but love is one of them.
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Zach’s backstory was achingly beautiful. He was the perfect narrator for this tale. I could feel his love for his human as well as his grief at being separated from her for so long. The bond between person and their dog can be an incredible thing to see. What made it even more interesting in this case is that everything the reader learns about their life together is shared through the mindset of a dog who doesn’t always understand human culture.

Ms. Aardmore clearly has a wonderful sense of humor. From what dogs really think of the word “no” to what happens when the atmosphere in the Rainbow Bridge rains shoes, there was a lot of funny stuff tucked between her heartwarming passages. It definitely wasn’t something I was expecting to find, but giggling through my tears made me love the whole thing even more.

I’m not embarrassed to admit that I started crying within a few pages. The stories in this book were incredibly touching, especially the ones featuring dogs whose earthly lives included any kind of mistreatment. There’s a soft spot in my heart for rescued animals, although of course I rooted for all of the dogs as they waited for their humans.

Figuring out the most appropriate age recommendation was tricky. There are some incredibly sad scenes in this tale, but the writing style in those sections seems like it was created with young elementary students in mind. Even incredibly difficult topics are approached in ways that I wouldn’t necessarily expect to find for an audience that was quite a bit older or younger than that. There’s a nice balance between telling the truth and avoiding too many details. This is something I would have loved when I was eight.

Tales from the Rainbow Bridge is a must-read for adults and kids alike.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

A Secret to Die For by Sierra Dean

November 6, 2014 By 1 Comment

SECRET
A Secret to Die For by Sierra Dean
 Secret McQueen Book 8
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (287 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Foxglove

No one is safe.

Secret McQueen thought she’d seen it all, but that was before she, Desmond and Holden came home to find New York City burning and the streets overwhelmed with the walking dead. Now, in a race against time, she must find out who is responsible for unleashing hell on Earth.
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For that, she’s going to need a whole new team of vampire wardens to help round up the perpetrators, who turn out to be a gang that makes Sons of Anarchy look like toddlers on tricycles.

Her quest across the city brings old friends and enemies out of the woodwork and reminds Secret once and for all why mercy and forgiveness are not always prudent. Lives will be lost, sacrifices will be made, and when the dust settles, nothing will ever be the same again.

With no time to mourn her losses, the only question remaining is if Secret can survive long enough to stop the apocalypse…or if this is the one challenge that will finally drown her in rivers of undead blood.

Everything was supposed to be better now. For Secret McQueen, life should have finally been good; she had one man she was committed to, her two most dangerous enemies were dead and she was ready to settle down with her sweetie and live a relatively normal life. But when they got back to New York, they found the city burning, and the dead were walking all over town. Now Secret has to face the greatest challenge of all, stop the people trying to destroy the city, save her friends and stay alive herself. Can Secret find new allies to battle against the threat facing the city? Will everyone survive this one? Will Secret finally have her happy ever after with the man she loves, or is fate still against her?

A Secret to Die For is the final offering in Sierra Dean’s intriguing series featuring wolf shifters, vampires and ordinary people working to keep humanity safe and live their lives. This is a complex and intriguing world, where anything can, and often does, happen, and people are real and likeable and feel like old friends. I have been with Secret from the beginning, and enjoyed watching her grow and mature into the adult she has become, and it has been quite the journey.

Secret has finally made her decision on the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, and she is ready and willing to ‘settle down’ and follow her heart. She is also sad to know that she hurt a friend, and that it may take a while for him to be friends with her without romance. I like this adult Secret, and I was glad to see she was still ready and willing to take care of business to save ‘her’ city, using old allies and making a few new alliances along the way. There were some very tearful moments as two people close to her did not survive this last disaster, and I was surprised at who proved themselves in the final battle as well.

This one has the usual cast of characters: Desmond, Secret’s werewolf lover, Holden Chancery, her vampire lover and mentor, Secret’s two human friends Mercedes and Tyler, and Secret’s sister. All of them, along with Lucas and Keaty, make appearances here, and the battles to defeat the evil necromancers were all well fought and coordinated. There were some major characters lost in this one, and a final surprise that I did not expect, but I found this to be a totally satisfying finale to Secret McQueen’s story. I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys some conflict with their happy ever after, but be warned…there are lots of tears in this one, so bring more than one box of tissues.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Help Wanted: Wife by Fleeta Cunningham

November 4, 2014 By 2 Comments

WIFE
Help Wanted: Wife by Fleeta Cunningham
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (53 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

When practical-minded rancher Cole Witherspoon decides his ranch needs a woman’s touch, he goes about filling the vacancy in the most sensible way. He places a help-wanted ad. He never suspects just how many lessons he’ll learn when an out-of-work schoolteacher answers the ad.

Cherilyn Bixby is a sensible person, capable around the house, and pretty, but she makes the mistake of wearing her best dress to meet Cole–and his huge, undisciplined dog. She’s not overly fond of dogs, nor is her big, red cat. A cat that will not be living in the barn, no matter what Cole says.

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She should have known that it wasn’t going to be a piece of cake when he was three and a half hours late picking her up at the station. If she’d had some place else to go, she probably wouldn’t be waiting. However, the town was four miles away, it was raining and she was wearing her good clothes. She waited…

Ms. Cunningham picks characters that are mismatched. They’re not from the same part of the world, they don’t have the same likes, and while they are both looking for companionship, they have some edges to take off. I like her feisty female character who takes no guff from anyone. She might have been a schoolteacher but she’s no shy lily. She’s more of a forget-me-not.

The author sends her to a house filled with men. There’s Cole, the good looking hunk who is looking for a wife to cook and clean; an uncle, an older brother and a younger nephew. Another thing she has to deal with is a monster dog that goes on the rounds with Cole. You get an inkling of trouble to come when she has arrived with a cat.

One of my favorite parts is when he tells her there are no animals allowed in the house; her cat will have to go in the barn. She informs him he can either take her to the hotel to catch the bus back or she’ll be sleeping in the barn with the cat. Such a sweet beginning, wouldn’t you say?

Her potential husband is quick to make decisions. The problem is that he doesn’t always think them out, he just reacts. This will come back to bite him in the butt further on in the story.

Ms. Cunningham writes a sweet romance story where the two cantankerous characters both agree to smooth out the rough spots and try together again. Cole is real inventive on how to apologize to Cherry for his previous actions. That’s another of my favorite parts of the story.

Why not give this one a read and pick out your own favorite spots? I found a lot to like about this short tale. I think you will, too.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton

October 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment

EYES
Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton
Publisher: Zebra Books
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (392 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Don’t Look

At first, they struggle to escape. Then a torrent of blows rains down upon their bodies until their eyes cloud over in final agony. The killer shows no remorse–just a twisted need to witness each victim’s last terrified moments.

Don’t Speak

Public defender Rachel Wainwright is struggling to reopen a decades-old case, convinced that the wrong man is in prison. Homicide detective Deke Morgan doesn’t want to agree. But if Rachel’s hunch is correct, whoever fatally bludgeoned young, beautiful Annie Dawson thirty years ago could be the source of a new string of brutal slayings.

Just Prepare To Die
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Rachel’s investigation is about to reveal answers–but at a price she never thought to pay. Now she’s become the target of a rage honed by years of jealousy and madness. And a murderer is ready to show her just how vicious the truth can be. . .

I’ve never read a Mary Burton book I didn’t like and Cover Your Eyes was no exception. It had all the necessary elements of a first rate romantic suspense novel, secrets, danger, and of course, a budding romance.

I liked the character of Rachel, while tough; she showed a vulnerability for helping the people she believed in. Ms. Burton certainly kept me in suspense knowing if the DNA from a previous crime matched that of her now client, Jeb.

Deke was at times a little arrogant but you like him nevertheless because you know in the back of your mind he’s going to be right about his beliefs and maybe save the day.

I enjoyed the way this story unfolded. A clue here and there, another character thrown in just to keep you on your toes about guessing the story’s outcome. And while I did guess correctly on some of the clues, the ending was perfect for a die-hard mystery reader like myself.

And speaking of other characters, all the secondary ones in this story drew you into their tale. Ms. Burton made them as well rounded as Rachel and Deke.

I also liked the setting. So many stories feature New York, LA , New Orleans or Atlanta but I can’t think of a romantic suspense I’ve read that’s set in Nashville and the music industry. It was a refreshing change which I felt added another layer to the story.

Pacing is actually fast despite this book’s length and I think the “I have to turn the page” quality of Cover Your Eyes had something to do with that.

If you’re looking to add a romantic suspense story to your upcoming winter reading list, I’d recommend this one.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Eagle En Garde by Olga Godim

October 16, 2014 By 3 Comments

EAGLE
Eagle En Garde by Olga Godim
Publisher: Burst Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (303 pgs)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Darin, a mercenary officer, lives in Talaria, a kingdom surrounded by a magic-resistant spell. While some people wish to break the spell and invite magic back into the country, the fanatical sect of Cleaners is determined to prevent the return of magic. Darin doesn’t agree with the Cleaners’ doctrine but he doesn’t dispute it either. He is a soldier, not a philosopher. Then he accidentally overhears the Cleaners’ hidden agenda to destroy all magic workers in Talaria, including witches and elves, and his orderly life is turned upside down. His sweetheart is a witch, his daughter is a half-elf, and he has many elven friends. He can’t allow the Cleaners’ murderous scheme to succeed, can’t allow innocents to suffer from the rabid zealots. But what can a lone mercenary do against a horde of extremists? His only choice lies in trickery and deceit to outsmart his enemies. And the anti-magic spell on the border suddenly becomes his only ally.

Can one man change the fate of an entire country?
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Darin knows that the odds are against him when he decides to take on the traitorous sect of Cleaners, but he absolutely cannot ignore a plot that would endanger his country and the people he loves. Darin abhors the Cleaners and their agenda. He’ll do whatever he can to stop them, even at the cost of his own life.

Darin exemplifies what a true hero should be. He is smart, brave, and fierce when he needs to be. However, he is also kind and considerate. He’s the sort of man who stands up for those in need and does not tolerate bullying of any kind. I particularly like that he treats others with respect and generally tries to give others the benefit of the doubt. While Darin always strives to do the right thing, he does have moments when he is selfish, rash, or makes poor decisions that cost him dearly. These flaws only serve to make Darin a wonderfully well rounded character. Perhaps the thing I like most about Darin is his genuine appreciation of life and the world around him. Darin’s time as a mercenary hasn’t hardened him. His curiosity and delight in discovering and learning new things was a pleasure to watch. I would be proud to call him my friend.

I love the world that Ms. Godim has created. As I followed Darin on his journeys, I could clearly see all the places he traveled through. I particularly like the description of Neazdal, a city where elves live. “Every house…glowed with its own color. The number of different shades was unbelievable…The colors blended in the middle, coalescing into each other. Violet transformed into gold, azure into dawn-pink, malachite into orange.” With descriptive language like this, Ms. Godim painted a picture of an absolutely breathtaking city that I dearly wish I could visit.

The pacing of Eagle En Garde is excellent. There is plenty of page turning action and adventure, but Ms. Godim sprinkles in some slower moments throughout the story when Darin spends time with loved ones or simply needs to recover after his many battles. The mix of the mundane and the epic gives this fantasy a realistic feel.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Eagle En Garde. Darin is a great character, and I had so much fun following him on his adventures. I must admit that I was a little sad when I finished reading. I hope that Ms. Godim has plans for a sequel because I wasn’t quite ready to leave Darin and the beautiful world of Talaria behind. I highly recommend Eagle En Garde to anyone looking for a compelling and engaging tale of adventure.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan

October 14, 2014 By 1 Comment

MAYBE
Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (251 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

This winter, ex-skiing champion, reformed heartbreaker and single dad Tyler O’Neil has only one mission—making sure his daughter, Jess, has the best Christmas ever. The fact that his best friend, Brenna, is also temporarily moving into his chalet at the overbooked Snow Crystal resort is a delicious distraction he’s simply going to have to ignore. Theirs is the one relationship he’s never ruined, and he’s not about to start now.

Ski pro Brenna Daniels knows all about the perils of unrequited love—she’s been in love with Tyler for years. But living with him is absolute torture…how can she concentrate on being his friend when he’s sleeping in the room next door? Then when Tyler kisses Brenna, suddenly the relationship she’s always dreamed of feels so close she could almost touch it. Could this be the Christmas her dreams of a happy-ever-after finally come true?

Maybe This Christmas is a holiday themed romance that reads like a warm hug, filled with love and devotion. It took a while for the hero to understand that the best holiday gift has been with him his whole life. This story follows Tyler as he discovers the courage to open his ‘present’ and his heart.

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Truly, I put on holiday music as I wrote this review. I was inspired. The story creates a sense of joy and magic about snow storms, evergreens laden down with snow and the crisp mountain air of Vermont. The scenes about skiing, snowmobiling and trudging through the white drifts were well described and made me feel like I was there. It even almost made me look forward to winter again – almost.

Tyler was an interesting character. He was a man driven to excel, to succeed and to push himself to the limit in the skill of competitive skiing. In a few seconds, an accident on a ski run took it all away. This book explores the journey of the hero coming to terms with his new reality and Tyler isn’t taking it too well. Enter a pivotal secondary character – his daughter, Jess. Their relationship provided many moments of reflection, emotion, hilarity, tender words and love between father and daughter. It was heart warming, rocky, quirky and a work in progress. I enjoyed the scenes of them together.

The thing Tyler and Jess both agree on is how wonderful Brenna Daniels is, for obviously different reasons. Thing is, Brenna has loved Tyler all her life but he’s absolutely clueless. I liked how the heroine was depicted. She tried to live her life the best she could, resigning herself to unrequited love. Not only does she have to struggle to act like she doesn’t care but she has a strained relationship with her parents. When Ms. Morgan was ready to share it, imagine my surprise as to the reason. It was rather shocking. Not only did it make things so much clearer, it had its own happy ever after finale and I was very touched.

Even though most of the conflict is internal there is one external conflict that has been bubbling under the surface for a while. This is where Ms. Morgan shines – she takes a subject that has deep and possibly tragic lifetime repercussions and explores how a person can heal and rise above the pain. I speak of being bullied in school. The author handled the conflict with care and the scenes that dealt with it were examples of powerful writing. I couldn’t help but be emotionally engaged in the telling and the author showed just how heart wrenching it can be but also provided readers with a twist. The heroine realizes a shocking truth and it stunned me. Ms. Morgan, through her heroine, shows how empowering being able to forgive can be. I respected the heck out of Brenna at that moment.

No spicy romance would be complete without the hero and heroine finally succumbing to their built up passions. It doesn’t get any more romantic that this. Ms. Morgan certainly satisfies a reader on that score. Of course, Tyler initially bumbled it. That made great conflict because at that point he was still trying to reconcile the possibilities with his fears. Eventually, after an ultimatum that shocked him to his toes, Tyler does what he does best – focuses and lets nothing stop him from succeeding. The resulting scene practically melted my heart. This series ends with the ultimate in romantic settings and dialogue and scenes that made me say, “Awwww!”

Maybe This Christmas is filled with warmth, joy and love. This novel is filled with lessons learned, yearnings fulfilled and adorable dogs frolicking among its pages. It’s a story I’m adding to my keeper shelf to reread when I need a boost of “feel good’ to brighten my day. It’s that kind of book and worth recommending to romance readers everywhere. Get your smile on and read Maybe This Christmas.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Star Catcher by Molly Dean

October 14, 2014 By 12 Comments

STAR
The Star Catcher by Molly Dean
Publisher: Wild Child Publshing
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (239 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

When fifteen year-old Hawke feels fed up with not being able to walk, he escapes in his mind to a misty island filled with moorlands, ancient forests, and monolithic stones: a place where he can move and run and accomplish heroic quests.

His life is turned upside down, though, when he’s thrust into this dream world and finds it real! He becomes ‘Star Catcher.’ The job? Track and collect shooting stars or meteors sent from a more advanced civilization, which have powers that protect the island from approaching evil. He finds many helpers along the way: a serving girl who can communicate with animals and create light, an alluring mermaid, a savvy one-eyed crow, and an old farmer with a secret.
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Hawke must also discover what’s going on inside the imposing mansion called Moon House. Why do rooms change? Why do objects mysteriously shift? Who lives inside the old forest behind the place—and why is the Star Catcher forbidden to enter it? And most importantly, who are Hawke and his stars really battling against? An evil genius? A pirate-like group called the Shrikers who have taken over the island? An Ancient Magic? Or, maybe an aspect of himself?

Hawke’s life sucks – his legs are paralyzed, he’s confined to his bed, his father has left, his mother is unhappy and trying to find solace. Hawke escapes the real world and dives into a world of dreams where he becomes the star catcher. He has to catch five stars as they fall from the sky – one every other day – and when he has caught the last star the magic will return to the strange land.

The world of Hawke’s dreams is very well thought out and each trip to find a star is like a different jewel in a necklace. Similar but each an individual in its own right. Hawke is typical of a young teenage boy but Emma, the girl servant at the Moon House, has several different facets to her character. Evil is easy to recognize as it comes in the guise of the Shrikers and Facsimiles but working out who the good guys are takes a little more time.

This story has a smattering of various animals, humans and mythical creatures. They confuse, assist or act against Hawke and as the reader I never knew which way each character would go.

I found this book to be very attention grabbing. At first it dragged a little but once Hawke started his travels in the other world I had to keep reading to see what happened next. While not the usual mystery and adventure, this fantasy certainly has a hint of magic, mystery and adventure. All make this a worthwhile read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

A Winter Wedding by Amanda Forester

October 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WINTER
A Winter Wedding by Amanda Forester
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (410 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

Miss Penelope Rose, exclusive matchmaker to London’s elite, successfully creates love for everyone but herself. Her toughest client yet, the sexy Duke of Marchford, has commissioned her to find him a bride. But he’s more interested in tracking down a spy, and she’s in no hurry to speed up the process…
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When the fate of England falls in the Duke’s hands, he enlists Penelope for a new plan—they announce a sham engagement in order to flush out the traitor. But as the stakes get more deadly, and their feelings more real, will they discover that love is the most dangerous plot of them all?

Love, mystery and a plot to overthrow the king is just a taste of what this story has to offer. As Penelope and James try to figure out if they are capable of love, let alone loving one another, they seem to have to fight the elements as well and danger at every turn.

Penelope was by far my favorite character in the story. She was not what you would expect from a woman during the time period, in all the right ways. She is determined, independent and smart. She will not accept a life of dutifully following behind a man even if the man is the Duke of Marchford. She would rather a life without a husband that to be pitied or wed for the wrong reasons. Unlike her peers whom seem to throw themselves at the poor Duke. I can understand why he wants her as his bride so badly as she is truly a catch.

James has everything a man would want of his statue. Yet underneath it all he is still a lonely child abandoned by those who should have loved him. It has created a rash, sensible man who fears he is incapable of love. While he may not realize it, to me it was obvious he was much more capable than he knew. It was not his words that showed but his actions that clearly he cared for Penelope fondly and would do anything even take a bullet for her. Unfortunately for him, he had to prove just how willing he would be taken said bullet on more than one occasion.

The plot line in the story is extremely dynamic and entertaining. I love the mystery behind the spies. Not only do you not know who they are, but their intentions are keep secret until the very end. This long with the love line, and interesting array of sub-characters made this story truly entertaining, and at times I did not want to put it down. While I am fairly new to historical romances this one is definitely a stand out to me and I would highly recommend you reading it.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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